Chapter 167: The Last Missing Piece of the Puzzle

Maggie arched an eyebrow and offered a wry smile. "Indeed, I must be quite unlikable to men; Joseph doesn't fancy me. Why would Mr. Harris have his eyes on me?" Vanessa also smiled, kindly adding, "Maggie, you shouldn't put yourself down, Mr. Harris—"

"Enough!" Joseph interrupted sharply, unwilling to hear more.

Vanessa paused, her expression turning awkward.

Maggie didn't waste any more time. She raised her glass to toast Joseph before gracefully walking away. As she passed Vanessa, Vanessa clearly saw her lips move silently mouthing, "Fool!"

Enraged, Vanessa trembled, wanting to retort, but Maggie was already too far away.

Joseph closed his eyes, recalling Nathael's embrace of Maggie and feeling an inexplicable irritation.

The luxurious banquet hall blazed with dazzling lamps. A gentle piano serenade filled the air. Most of the guests had arrived, and Maggie was adeptly mingling.

Shawn arrived in a gray suit, looking quite flushed. He entered and walked straight to Maggie.

"It's been a while, Miss Adam. You're as breathtaking as ever!"

Maggie warmly shook his hand. "And you, Mr. Lewis, are as spirited and dashing as always!"

After exchanging pleasantries, she checked the time. It was eight in the evening. If her memory served her correctly, Shawn's first shipment of goods was due to arrive at the port at 9:40 PM, to be handled and unloaded by his crew.

Seemingly relieved that his merchandise was nearly at the port, Shawn was visibly overjoyed at the prospect of the upcoming profit.

When Noah and Master Cameron saw Shawn, they greeted him enthusiastically.

"Mr. Lewis, welcome! Your generous support has been crucial to my family's recent success."

From a distance, Maggie watched this scene with a smile. What a lively scene! The Camerons had eagerly scheduled their celebration for today; wasn't it because the Adams' new jewelry collection for the next season was launching tomorrow? They clearly intended to show off their prowess.

The Camerons’ new releases, though not yet on sale, had inevitably been heavily promoted. Relying on a massive promotional campaign, the foundation of the Cameron construction business, undercutting the market with low prices, and not to mention Vanessa's theft of design drafts from Adams, the Camerons' combination of moves had been undoubtedly successful.

Soon after, Mia arrived with Jordan. Her long, wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, and she wore a stunning black and red dress complemented by dazzling diamond jewelry.

Seeing her, Maggie couldn't help but smile. Mia looked ready to cause a stir, adorned from head to toe in jewelry from either Adams or other international brands.

To support Maggie and in anticipation of claiming compensation from the Camerons' failure, Mia had heavily invested in the Camerons. She ordered over 15 million in jewelry, which delighted Noah immensely.

Mia couldn't resist hugging Maggie, commenting on her good choice of dress. The pale blue was modest and clean, yet exuded a youthful, cold, but gentle vibe.

Maggie, as always, wore only a few pieces of jewelry, but even so, Mia couldn't take her eyes off her.

"You're truly beautiful," Mia exclaimed.

Then, leaning closer, she whispered, "My dad bought a lot of Cameron stock a while ago. I had him dump it all a few days ago. Leo has sold his shares today as well." Maggie grinned. Everything was in place, except for the last piece of the missing puzzle.

There was no way they'd gone through all this trouble, set such a large trap, and not reaped benefits from the Camerons. If one couldn't seize such an opportunity, were they even in their right mind?

During their conversation, Philip arrived with Ericko. The longstanding feud between Cameron and Adams was well-known in Aquapolis. People perceived the Camerons as encroaching on Adams' territory by entering the jewelry industry. When father and son appeared, a noticeable lull fell over the chatter.

However, Ronald showed no sign of displeasure. He opened his arms wide, a broad smile on his face. "Oh! Philip, it's been far too long! I'm worried your empire keeps you too busy to grace my modest party."

Maggie watched, her smile deepening at Ronald's familiar yet feigned warmth. Both were veterans of countless business battles, and Philip returned the greeting enthusiastically. "Not at all, Ronald. You personally sent me an invitation. I certainly couldn't miss it! Congratulations on your company's triumphant debut and soaring sales!"

Standing beside his father in an elegant white suit, Ericko resembled a refined gentleman. Noticing Maggie's glance, he subtly nodded.

Maggie raised her wine glass and sipped with a smile. She knew Ericko had everything prepared.

At eight sharp, Ronald took the stage. "First, on behalf of the Camerons, I warmly welcome and thank all our friends and family for being here! It's your support that has allowed us to achieve initial success in our new venture. As everyone is aware, my family started in construction. We've weathered decades of storms."

Standing in the audience, Maggie watched Ronald speak. This man was extraordinary in certain respects; he was also adept at putting on a facade. His capacity for impressive public appearances was undeniable. At least, his words stirred genuine excitement and warmth in the hearts of his listeners.

Maggie thought to herself that even knowing Ronald's true nature, she often couldn't help but feel his disguise was too perfect—so perfect that even knowing he was cunning and malicious, it was difficult to detect any deceit.

He continued with an announcement that incited even more excitement. "Next, I have several pieces of good news. Luster Corporation has not only recruited the rising domestic talent, Andy Farrow, but we've also invited the internationally renowned designer, Albert, as our chief designer! At the same time, we've opened eighty new stores nationwide, and our orders for the next quarter have already surpassed 3 billion. I believe that with our relentless efforts and bold breakthroughs, Luster Corporation is bound to embrace a brighter future!" Ronald's speech was full of passion, truly reflecting his excitement. It had been too long since the Camerons had such uplifting news, and ages since they'd taken such a significant step.

As soon as his words ended, applause erupted. Just then, over a dozen uniformed police officers entered the venue, silencing the crowd. As they approached, they caught everyone's attention. Several officers stood before Shawn. The leading officer solemnly stated, "Shawn Lewis, this is a warrant. You're suspected of smuggling and transporting goods illegally, with serious consequences and substantial amounts involved. We now ask you to come with us to the station for questioning."